Three Contractors "Quit" Khor Mor Field
By John Lee. Three companies have reportedly stopped operations at Kurdistan's Khor Mor gas field following rocket attacks. According to Reuters, the companies are Texas-based Exterran, and Turkish subcontractors Havatek and Biltek. The field is operated by Pearl Petroleum, a consortium led by UAE-based Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum. More here. (Source: Reuters)
Iran-Iraq Trade Continues Despite Disruption
By John Lee. Iran has reportedly closed its land borders to Iraq in response to the upsurge in violence in the country. According to AFP, Iranian flights to the country have also been halted. Meanwhile, Iran's Mehr News says that while passenger travel is suspended, people are being allowed to return to their home countries, […]
Deep Dive: Sadr declares 'Final Retirement'
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Deep Dive: Iraq's Sadr declares 'final retirement' as street politics escalates In Iraq, Sadrist Movement leader Muqtada Al-Sadr has announced his "final retirement" from politics. He has also reportedly gone on a "hunger […]
Curfew in Iraq as Protests lead to Deaths
By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi has ordered the suspension of official working hours on Tuesday, imposing a curfew in response to protests that have led to the deaths of an estimated 20 people. The cabinet meeting planned for this week has also been deferred. Hundreds of supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr stormed government […]
KRG launches new Digitised Driving Licence System
By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has launched a digitised driving licence system. In a press release this week, KRG Prime Minister Barzani is seen renewing his own driving license using the new system. Prime Minister Barzani praised the Ministry of the Interior and the company in charge of implementing the new process, […]
Building Iraq's Social Protection Floor
Building Iraq's Social Protection Floor: Joint UN paper proposes recommendations to strengthen the adequacy, coverage and equity of the social protection system in Iraq A new working paper has been developed by the United Nations in Iraq, which proposes a set of key recommendations that would contribute to strengthening the adequacy, coverage and equity of […]
Will Oil Dispute with Baghdad shift Dynamics in Kurdistan?
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Will oil dispute with Baghdad shift dynamics within Iraqi Kurdistan? In Iraq, the federal government and the authorities in the Kurdistan region are locked in a serious and multipronged dispute over the country's […]
Audio: Iraq's Deepening Political Crisis
From The Middle East Institute. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Ten months on from last October's elections, Iraq still does not have a new government and faces a deepening political crisis. To understand the current situation's perils and what may […]
Iraq Increases Currency and Gold Reserves
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) reportedly expects cash reserves to reach $90 billion by the end of this year, up from about $80 billion currently. CBI Deputy Governor, Ammar Khalaf, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the increase is a result of higher oil prices. He added that gold reserves […]
Why Iraq doesn't need another Snap Election
By Hamzeh Hadad, for the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Vote to nowhere: Why Iraq doesn't need another snap election Europeans should avoid supporting a snap election simply because a political leader is unsatisfied […]
Arab Monetary Fund forecasts Growth Rate for Iraq
By John Lee. A new report from the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) forecasts a growth rate for Iraq of 5.5 percent this year, falling to 4.4 percent in 2023. The Seventeenth Edition of the 'Arab Economic Outlook Report' can be downloaded here (Arabic only). (Source: Arab Monetary Fund)
Iraq Confirms July Oil Exports
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Oil has announced finanlised oil exports for July of 102,385,049 barrels, giving an average for the month of 3.303 million barrels per day (bpd), down from the 3.373 million bpd exported in June. The exports from the oilfields in central and southern Iraq amounted to approximately 99,965,094 barrels, while […]